Cool Blew Blog

Category Archives: Heating

Many Phoenix area homeowners have questions about heat pumps. How does a heat pump differ from an air conditioner? Can a heat pump keep my home comfortable during the winter months? Is a heat pump the right choice for my home? Traditionally, in colder winter weather areas of the United States (the East Coast, Midwest and northern states) home heating and cooling systems are installed with two basic components – a gas furnace, as well as a separate air conditioning unit. However, in Arizona, many neighborhoods and outlying areas are without gas lines, so gas furnaces are not always an option. In many instances, heat pumps are the logical choice.

What Are the Differences Between Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners?

If you see an air conditioning unit sitting next to a heat pump in a showroom, they look the same. The inner workings are very similar with one major difference. An air conditioner can only cool your home by transferring the heat from inside your house to the outdoors (that is, of course, an oversimplification of the process of air conditioning). While a heat pump has the ability to reverse the process and extract heat from the outdoors and “pump” it into your home. Pump is not the ideal word in describing this process. Heat pumps “move” heat from one place to another rather than generate heat (which is what gas furnaces or electric heaters do.) Generating heat, whether utilizing gas or electric power can get costly. The good news is Phoenix winters are generally very mild with only a few cold snaps per year.

Is There More Than One Type of Heat Pump?

There are three main types of heat pumps; air source, split ductless and geothermal. Air source heat pumps are the most popular choice for Arizona homes and can reduce your heating bill significantly over old school electric baseboard heaters. Split ductless can be an excellent option for one room additions, garage workshops or a separate studio because they do not require any ductwork. Geothermal heat pumps can greatly reduce your home’s energy usage, but they require major upfront installation costs. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of heat pump system. It’s a good idea to call in one of our experienced professionals to perform a complete HVAC inspection and assess your needs, review the options available to you and explain which system might work best for your home.

There are many reasons to consider choosing a heat pump for your home, including:

Heat Pumps Are Extremely Energy Efficient – A quote from the Department of Energy website states, “Today’s heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating such as furnaces and baseboard heaters. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months.” Heat pumps yield more heat compared to the amount of electricity it takes to run them than older types of electric furnaces or heaters.

Cost – Which Is More Economical? – An expense comparison between a traditional AC/gas furnace house versus a home with a heat pump shows that over the course of one year, the cost works out to be just about the same. It is true that purchasing a heat pump with an extremely high SEER rating may be more expensive initially. However, there is no clear financial advantage to going with an air conditioner/gas furnace system over a heat pump.

Heat Pumps in Below Freezing Temperatures – People from all over the US visit Arizona from November through April because of the ideal desert climate. Temperatures in Phoenix are near perfect while the rest of the country bundles up for winter. However, occasionally temperatures will dip below freezing which can present a challenge for heat pumps. The solution is added heat strips which are electrically powered wire heating elements that warm up the air before it is blown into your home. Depending on how warm you like the temperature to be (especially in the mornings) your heat strip usage will vary.

Winter Is Coming

With the beautiful fall weather and relief from summer’s extreme heat, HVAC issues may be the last thing on your mind. However, November is a great month to schedule a fall checkup and review your options if you are considering a heat pump. Why not give us a call, and one of our friendly service pros will drop by and perform a full HVAC system assessment for you.

Do you have family members who take long showers, leaving you in the cold? If you’ve discovered the chilly truth of running out of hot water due to a too-small water heater, you may want to consider a simple addition to your water heater called a water heater booster.

Homeowners are often surprised to learn that a single shower can use 10 or more gallons of hot water. If you have a standard 50-gallon tank, you can quickly surpass your family’s hot water needs. Dishwashers and washing machines only add to the daily consumption. If you’re tired of running out of hot water mid-shower, it might be time to consider the installation of a water heater booster.

What is a Water Heater Booster?

A water heater booster is installed directly on the water line to provide more hot water than the tank can provide. In fact, this small device, that is attached to the tank or nearby wall, can nearly double your shower time. Compatible with both electric and gas tanks, a water heater booster detects the temperature of the water from the tank outlet and activates when it senses that the inlet temperature has dropped below a set activation temperature.

Should You Invest in a Water Heater Booster?

If your household is battling the daily challenge of not enough hot water, it may make sense to consider a water heater booster. A unit can be added to an existing tank or installed along with a new water heater. Call Cool Blew today to learn more about the benefits of a water heater booster and if it’s right for your home.

Looking to Reduce Hot Water Use for Energy Savings

Nearly 15 percent of your home’s energy costs can be attributed to your water heater. While a water heater booster can help increase the amount of available hot water in your home, it’s also wise to consider ways to increase the efficiency of your water heater. Often, a few small modifications can make a big difference.

Consider Low Flow Showerheads

Reducing the flow of water in your shower and sinks can mean more hot water when you need it.

Insulate the Tank

Replace an Inefficient Water Heater

Today’s energy-efficient water heaters can save 15 percent or more in energy costs over older models. Look for an Energy Star model that has heat traps that prevent convective heat losses through inlet and outlet pipes.

Have questions about water heaters? Call Cool Blew today at 623-872-2900. Serving Peoria, AZ and the greater Phoenix area.

During the summer months, Arizona homeowners are often shocked and dismayed by sky-high utility bills. Air conditioning costs to keep a home cool can jump up tremendously when temperatures are over 100 degrees. What if there was a way to potentially reduce these costs? There is, and it starts with a home energy audit.

The Ins and Outs of a Home Energy Audit

A home energy audit is a multi-step inspection of the potential drains on the energy efficiency of your home. This begins with carefully looking at your entire HVAC system to ensure it’s running efficiently. Often, there are simple efficiency issues, like clogged filters, that can be replaced to make your system more efficient.

During the audit, your home will also be evaluated to identify hold and cold spots that could indicate costly leaks. This includes windows, doors, attic, ductwork and other areas throughout your home. A window or door that isn’t properly sealed can be a big source of wasted energy. Simple repairs can make a big difference on your utility bill each month!

It’s Not About Pushing New Products

Unfortunately, many companies offer home energy audits with a single goal of selling products. This deters many homeowners from scheduling an audit on their home. At Cool Blew, Inc, this isn’t our goal. We are focused on finding the deficiencies in your home that can be driving up your energy expenses. We are also dedicated to educating and empowering homeowners to make the decisions that are right for them and their budget. Yes, we have the HVAC and indoor air quality products that can improve your home’s efficiency, but we also offer do-it-yourself tips that can save you money.

Get Ready to Start Saving!

Most homeowners are surprised at the level of savings they’ll experience following upgrades prescribed during a home energy audit. Customers have saved up to 30 percent by making just a few quick and easy improvements to improve their home’s energy efficiency.

Don’t spend another month paying more than you should for energy costs. Call Cool Blew’s Home Energy Audit Service today at 623-872-2900.

HVAC contractors do an amazing variety of work and require many different tools and pieces of equipment. When creating ductwork for a building, for example, they need specific things to work with sheet metal and even more precise tools to create ducts.

When it comes to the heating and cooling system in your home, the heat pump is an important aspect. It’s responsible for shifting air inside or out to control and maintain the temperature in your house. Getting the right size heat pump is crucial and will ensure that you have a comfortable indoor environment, an efficient system, and lower energy costs.

Discover what problems occur when you have a heat pump that is improperly sized. Continue reading →

Did you know your thermostat is one of the most valuable items in your home? Most programmable thermostats will work with any kind of residential heating and cooling system. This is a convenient feature because their universal appeal makes them more adaptable to many kinds of heating and cooling systems. Continue reading →

It has been cold these last few weeks, and, of course, that translates into a lower bill. When money is already tight since we just got over the dreadful summer heat and cost, we all could benefit from a few cost-saving strategies for keeping our homes warm without cranking up the heat. The following ideas are easy to implement and when combined can save you significantly on your heating bill.Continue reading →